I am torn on this review, and not for the reasons you might think.
Plants vs Zombies Replanted, from developer PopCap and publisher Electronic Arts, hit virtual stores on consoles last week and brought with it a complete package of fun. Local co-op, dozens of mini-games and puzzles, and the same insane fun that the original went wild with on PC, Mac, and mobile so long ago.
While touted as a remastered version of the mobile game, the HD graphics are rumored to be upscaled via AI and delivered in crystal clear form. Does that technique jab a little at the original artists of the game? Sure, but, honestly, that’s where AI is heading in the gaming industry, and I can’t see it stopping. It will eventually become normalized, even if it’s so outrageous at the moment. Big companies have to save costs while making big money. That’s the only way to satisfy shareholders. And if you want Battlefield 7, then you have to accept this unfortunate eventuality.
Truthfully, using AI to upscale graphics takes the creativity out of the development process, which is an undeniable certainty. If you need comfort, then take it with knowing that the only salvation from this future normalized habit is going to come from indie game developers. I’m hopeful that indies won’t take shortcuts when it comes to bringing a game graphically together. I suspect it won’t be perfect due to limited budgets and time, though. But I’m hopeful.
Anyway, the bottom line is that you can be mad at this and reject it, but sooner rather than later, AI will be a fixture in a normal development process. There is no stopping that train. Might as well consider emotionally jumping on board with it. It’s not going anywhere.
That small begrudged pass doesn’t mean this release is top-tier. My biggest issue with this release is the price point. We’ll discuss that in a bit.
On that note, let’s talk about the game.
Gameplay
If you’re a new player to PvZ, then this release might be a great starting point when it comes to appreciating its addictive yet simple design. That game goes like this: the gameplay has zombies invading a homeowner’s yard, and the player is tasked with planting offense/defense-driven plants that are trying to stop them. Players must use logic and a hefty amount of strategy to find the best way to stop the horde of undead.
As simple as that might seem, the game throws in some clever wrenches. On a basic level, players must plant sunflowers to collect sun-drop currency. With that currency, the player can purchase a bevy of plants that they chose at the beginning of each round. The player must juggle how to handle sunflower planting while keeping the sunflowers and their home safe, all while taking on a massive horde of varying zombie types that could get into the player’s home. The game starts simple, and even gives players a pass in the form of lawnmowers in each zombie lane that chop up all the zombies should the undead make it beyond the first layer of offenses/defenses.
The game’s pacing goes from first gear to frantic, as each level throws more enemies into the fray and different zombie types bring in their own form of complication to the strategic process. For example, normal zombies don’t take much effort to bring down. A zombie with a cone on its head takes a bit more effort and time, which affects the player’s decision-making when it comes to deciding when to plant their vegetarian guns. As the player goes through levels, the zombies become harder, and what the player plants dictates how fast a particular zombie can be killed. If you enjoy strategy, then this type of game is right up your alley, as players will have to think on the fly, which makes the gameplay addictive.
Now, if that wasn’t enough strategic complication for your liking, there is more. Not only do enemies shift and vary, but the levels in the game also shift and vary. The player will start on a normal ground with no obstacles, but then shift to a yard with a pool in the middle that requires different strategic thought to deal with. Players have to lay down lily pads to plant their veggie guns, and not all plants work on lily pads. The levels then shift to nighttime, which prevents sun drops from falling from the sky or appearing quickly, and that slows down options against zombies until enough sunflowers can be planted. The final level of this game puts players on a roof, which forces them to plant in pots, as there is no soil on a home roof.
I’ve always been enthralled with the sheer number of strategic plans one can put together using all the above obstacles and tools. It makes every go in this game a unique experience, and improving upon one strategy might emotionally force a player to revisit previous levels to test out that same strategy to get better results. In short, the game has all of these lovely gameplay elements that make it such an addictive and fun experience. Even after all these years since I first played the game on mobile, I can still get right into the gameplay without a hitch.
For added value, PopCap also included a bevy of puzzles and mini-games, which range from easy and entertaining to downright difficult as hell. They extend the gameplay considerably and bring to the table a rigid, rule-based game experience that is just different enough from the main game not to feel cheap. The cherry on top of this is the amazing co-op mode, which can have players killing zombies with their bestie or going against one another. Again, the game is amazing as it is timeless fun.
Now, let’s discuss that price point.
Price point from 2009
Regardless of how much fun this game might be, and how much longevity it will have in the coming years, I think the price point for this release is off the mark. That’s my biggest issue with this release, as a game that is nearly as old as the modern mobile phone industry shouldn’t be $19.99. It was $19.95 at launch back in 2009, and on mobile it was max $2.99. There is no viable reason for this game to be $19.99 in 2025. The main game is still the same; there’s nothing significantly improved outside of additional co-op, some goodies, and a new game+ mode. For a game this old, it should not be more than it was back in 2009.
While I’m a poor businessman by trade (look at all the ads on our site), I probably would price point this at $14.99 – MAX. If it’s true that a majority of improvements were made via AI, then there should be no justification for the increased price of a now free-to-play game (with ads) on the mobile platform. Even with co-op and the entire kitchen sink (and dishes) thrown into the mix, there’s still no justification for that price. That’s my biggest issue with this game so far. There are so many newer and more sophisticated games out there for that price point, so I wouldn’t immediately be wowed by this one if those were shown side-by-side.
Anyway, that’s my biggest issue. You can decide on your own whether the experience is worth $20 or not. Maybe for new gamers it would be. Only you can decide that.
On that note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
Plants vs Zombies Replanted, from developer PopCap and publisher Electronic Arts, is still fun as hell to run through, and doubly so with co-op, mini-games, puzzles, and a new game+ built into it. It’s the complete package. My biggest issue is price point, as the main game from 2009 is a hard sell for me at $20.
